Project information
Influence of competition between proliferating Calamagrostis epigejos and recess. plant species indigenous to flooded meadows by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza

The grass Calamagrostis epigejos has invaded native plant communities of periodically flooded lowland ecosystems of southern Moravia during the last years. The primary reasons of this phenomenon have not been defined yet and may be caused by changes in f lood regime, water table level decrease and/or enhanced eutrophication due to atmospheric depositions and agriculture activities. The presented study focuses on the role of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) symbiosis in the growth of C. epigejos and selected retreating plant species and their interspecific competition. The main focus of the study is to determine to what degree increased nitrogen or organic phosphates supply influence the functioning of VAM symbioses in interspecific competition (si mulation of eutrofication, event. thick litter accumulation). Three experiments in growth chambers together with field sample collecting for evaluation of VAM development in situ are the core of the project. The isolates of VAM fungi obtained from target